Denver Police Detective Charged In Prostitution Investigation

LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)– A Denver Police detective who was at the center of an investigation involving prostitution in Lakewood has been charged six days after the alleged initial contact.

Lakewood police did not cite or arrest either Denver police Detective Michael Ryan or the woman in his police car last Thursday night.

Steve Davis, a spokesman for the Lakewood Police Department, declined to discuss specifics of the case, but said Lakewood police agents handled the case appropriately. He said as soon as officers knew they had stopped a Denver police detective with a known prostitute a supervisor was notified, a watch commander was notified, and the Denver Police Department was notified the following day.

Davis acknowledged that in similar circumstances most citizens would have immediately been cited for soliciting a prostitute. But he said the unusual, extenuating circumstances in the Ryan case caused Lakewood police to release both Ryan and the 49-year-old woman and continue their investigation.

Davis said on Tuesday that Lakewood police are “not done with the case,” and it was still possible Detective Ryan, 50, could be charged.

Lakewood police insisted Monday that Ryan was driving his personal car and was off duty when he was apprehended. However, CBS4 confirmed that Ryan was actually driving an unmarked law enforcement vehicle — possibly belonging to a federal law enforcement agency.

Sources also told CBS4 that Lakewood agents actually followed Ryan and the woman into Denver, where Ryan parked his car in a darkened cul-de-sac. Sources familiar with the case say that when Lakewood agents approached the car the woman was bent over the center console of the car and Ryan’s belt and pants were unbuckled.

Ryan was issued a summons for charges of soliciting a prostitute and patronizing a prostitute. The female involved in the case has not yet been charged.

Police in Lakewood said after interviewing both Ryan and the woman, he had solicited her for a prostitution-related activity.

Police in Denver placed Ryan, a 17-year veteran of the force, on paid administrative leave.